Chapter 12

These two couplets, though somewhat difficult, are not exactly unsolvable. Why hasn't anyone been able to come up with the answers?

Li Qi watched as everyone pointed and whispered about the two couplets, but no one stepped forward to provide the answers. He was quite puzzled.

What Li Qi didn't know was that truly learned and talented people would never come here to compete with two juniors. Such a thing would damage their reputation, and those self-important scholars and poets would never do it. The people standing here were mostly those who had no real knowledge but liked to pretend to be profound.

Although he had the answers in his mind, Li Qi didn't want to take the spotlight. There was no noble reason for this; it was simply because the reward was too insignificant to tempt him. He wasn't yet in a situation where he couldn't even afford a meal. Besides, he didn't believe that the Jade Pavilion could serve anything that would attract him.

He actually hoped the couplets would stay up for a few more days, just in case he needed them. If he hadn't found a place to stay by the time the Drunken Immortal Inn was sold, he could still come here and get by for a month or so.

After some consideration, Li Qi had made up his mind and was about to leave when he suddenly saw a few people come out of the tavern. Leading them was a middle-aged man who looked like a steward, around forty years old, with a sharp nose, a monkey-like face, and two rat-like whiskers. His eyebrows drooped, and his eyes darted around, making him look like no good.

Behind the steward were a few young, strong thugs, dressed in short clothes, each with a haughty demeanor. If one thug was so arrogant, one could imagine how powerful Mr. Cai was.

A hint of disdain appeared on Li Qi's lips. Another group of lackeys.

When the people saw the steward come out, they all turned their attention to him.

Facing everyone's attention, the steward seemed to enjoy it very much. He smiled smugly, then in a leader-like tone, he clasped his hands and said in a rooster-like voice, "Thank you all for coming and making the Jade Pavilion shine. I, Cai Lao San, am deeply grateful."

After a pause, Cai Lao San continued, "The Jade Pavilion's current status and achievements are all due to your support. To thank everyone, my master has decided to increase the reward from ten days to fifteen days. Whoever can solve both couplets will not only get free meals and lodging for a month but also receive a hundred taels of silver as a reward."

As he spoke, Cai Lao San clapped his hands, and one of the thugs behind him came forward with a wooden tray. The tray was piled with several ingots of silver, which gleamed brightly in the sunlight.

A hundred taels! That's a substantial reward!

A murmur of excitement rose from the crowd.

Damn! Is this possible? Could Mr. Cai and I be on the same wavelength, knowing that I'm short on silver and sending it to me on purpose?

Li Qi's eyes flashed with excitement, and he stopped in his tracks. With the offer of silver, he wouldn't refuse. He straightened his clothes, puffed out his chest, and walked forward, afraid of being beaten to it. Just as he was about to speak, a weak voice came from the side, "Sir, please, give us some food. My mother and I haven't eaten for three days."

Li Qi turned his head and saw a skinny boy of about fifteen or sixteen, barefoot, holding a broken bowl in one hand and supporting a woman in her forties with the other. The woman was bent over, her lips pale, her face white, and she spoke weakly.

Seeing that they were beggars, Cai Lao San's face changed instantly. He shouted angrily, "You blind, stinking beggars! Don't you know where you are? How dare you beg here? If you scare away my guests, you'll be responsible! Get them out of here!"

"Yes, sir!"

These thugs, who saw an opportunity to please their boss without much effort, rushed forward to the beggar mother and son.

The woman, who had never seen such a scene, was so frightened that her legs gave out, and she fell to her knees, pleading, "Sir, I won't do it again, please... please..."

Bang!

Before she could finish her plea, the thug who was in the lead kicked her hard. The woman, already weak, couldn't withstand the impact and clutched her stomach, unable to even cry out in pain.

"Mother—!"

The boy shouted, his eyes filled with a fierce determination. He suddenly rushed at the thug, grabbing his hand and biting down hard.

"Ah—!"

The thug, caught off guard, screamed in pain and slapped the boy across the face.

The boy, still a child, couldn't match the strength of the adult thug and was knocked to the ground, stars dancing in his eyes, blood trickling from his mouth. But he didn't make a sound, his eyes fixed on the thug.

"You little brat, how dare you bite me! I'll beat you to death today!" The thug shook his right wrist, his face twisted in anger, his eyes gleaming with malice.

"Don't hit my son, please, hit me instead—!" The woman, seemingly finding strength from somewhere, threw herself at the thug, grabbing his right leg and pleading desperately.

"Get out of the way, you crazy woman." The thug lifted his left foot and kicked the woman.

"Stop!"

At that moment, a loud voice rang out from the crowd.

Everyone turned to see a young man in a gray robe.

It was Li Qi.

At that moment, he was so angry that his lungs almost burst. He clenched his teeth, his fists tight, his face black as charcoal, his eyes blazing with fury, as if he wanted to eat someone. What made him angriest was not the steward or the thugs, but the so-called scholars who stood by and watched, always talking about the way of the sages.

When the woman was being beaten, these people didn't step in to help but instead watched like it was a show. With such heartless citizens, how could the Northern Song Dynasty not fall?

Li Qi now wanted to see what these people would do when the Jin troops entered the capital.

Seeing Li Qi's shabby appearance, Cai Lao San's eyes flashed with disdain. "Who are you?"

Li Qi suppressed his anger, stepped forward, and said with a cold smile, "Sir, I am a poor scholar. My name is not important. I just want to ask if what you said earlier still stands."

Cai Lao San was slightly taken aback and asked, "What did I say?"

Li Qi smiled slightly and pointed to the couplets. "Didn't you say that whoever can solve these two couplets can stay and eat for free for a month and receive a hundred taels of silver? Have you forgotten?"

Cai Lao San laughed loudly. "The Jade Pavilion is a reputable place. We always keep our word. If you can solve either of the couplets, we will honor our promise." He didn't believe this poor scholar could solve both.

Li Qi shook his head and smiled. "I can't solve them, but I know someone who can."

"Who?" Cai Lao San asked, puzzled.

" Him!"

Li Qi pointed to the boy lying on the ground.

" Him? You mean this little beggar?" Cai Lao San pointed to the boy, surprised.

Li Qi gave Cai Lao San an approving look and smiled. "Congratulations, you're right."

Cai Lao San was taken aback, then burst into laughter. The crowd joined in, as if Li Qi had told a great joke.

Laugh, laugh, you'll cry soon enough. Li Qi didn't say anything, just stood to the side, watching coldly.